Portable tack room

ABSTRACT

A portable tack room, including a method to make the same, commonly used in a typical horse trailer. The portable tackroom is a storage system made of a first vertical element having a first edge, a second edge, and a surface. The first edge of the first vertical element is removably attached to a second vertical element. The second edge of the first vertical element is attached to at least one rolling element. This storage system permits an organized and portable space to keep articles related to equine activity in a gooseneck trailer.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to copending U.S. ProvisionalApplication entitled, “PORTABLE TACK ROOM,” having Ser. No. 60/802,589,filed May 23, 2006, which is entirely incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention generally relates to storage and organizing system, andparticularly to a storage and organizing system applied to equineactivities and hobbies.

BACKGROUND

There are many types of trailers, both large and small, available fortransporting horses. These trailers may be mobile on their own or couldbe towed by an automobile. Typically, a pick-up truck tows a horsetrailer. A common style of a horse trailer is of the commonly-known“gooseneck” configuration. The “gooseneck” is a narrow, elongatedextension of the box-like structure of the main body of the trailer. The“gooseneck” portion serves many purposes, such as accommodating the neckand the head of the horse(s) standing inside the trailer, providing apoint of support and attachment of the trailer to the towing vehicle,usually the bed of a pick-up truck, and a storage space for equipmentand accessories related to the equine activities and hobbies.

A tack room is a space in the horse trailer where bridles, saddles,accessories, supplies, and other equipment, is kept. In a“gooseneck”-style trailer, the tack room is usually close to the“gooseneck” portion at the front of the trailer. Built-in or walk-intack rooms are relatively expensive. Without a tack room, a person justheaps various items on the floor of the trailer, the towing vehicle, orthe floor of the “gooseneck” portion. Articles stored in this manner canbe disorganized, exposed to the elements, and/or unsafe to theoccupants, both animal and human, of a moving or stopped trailer.

Therefore, a need exists to address the aforementioned shortcoming anddisadvantage.

SUMMARY

The present invention is related to a portable tack room, for example,as used in a typical horse trailer. A storage system is provided, whichis made of a first vertical element having a first edge, a top edge, asecond edge having a width, and a surface. The first edge of the firstvertical element is removably attached to a second vertical element. Thesecond edge of the first vertical element is attached to at least onerolling element, such as a castor. A cover is pivotably attached to thesecond edge of the first vertical element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage system in accordance with afirst exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the storage system, in accordance with thefirst exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the storage system, of double rack style, inaccordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the storage system, of three-fourths rackstyle, in accordance with a third exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the storage system, installed on a dooroutside a trailer, in accordance with a fourth exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the storage system, illustrated with an opencover, installed on a door outside a trailer, in accordance with thefourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the storage system, illustrated with an arc ofa track to guide a wheel supporting the storage system, in accordancewith a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8A is a front view of the storage system, illustrated with astraight track to guide a set of wheels supporting the storage system,in accordance with an exemplary sixth embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 8B is a close-up view of the storage system, in accordance with thesixth exemplary embodiment of the present invention, illustrating awheel in a track.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the drawings, like reference numerals indicate like structures in thevarious embodiments. For example, the reference numeral 145 indicates alid on the storage bin 140 of the first embodiment of a storage system100 shown in FIG. 1. In the second embodiment, i.e., the storage system200, the reference numeral 245 indicates a lid on the storage bin 240.

FIG. 1 depicts the first exemplary embodiment of the storage system 100.The storage system 100 is shown installed inside a gooseneck trailercommonly used for transporting horses, wherein the storage system 100 islocated within a gooseneck area 185 of the gooseneck trailer. Thegooseneck area 185 is shown having a top portion that is a semicirculararch. A first vertical element 110 of the storage system 100 has a firstedge 105, a top edge 102, a second edge 115 having a width W, and afront surface 116 of the vertical element. The first edge 105 of thefirst vertical element 110 is removably attached to a second verticalelement 112 which may be a side wall of the gooseneck trailer or anothertype of transportable enclosure. Alternately, the second verticalelement 112 may be attached to a trailer. The removable attachment ofthe first vertical element 110 may be achieved by a hinge 180. FIG. 1shows a pair of hinges 180. The second edge 115 of the first verticalelement 110 is attached to at least one rolling element 130. A cover 120may optionally be pivotably attached to the second edge 115 of the firstvertical element 110 through a suitable hinge. The cover 120 could alsobe attached to an object, in the present case, the storage bin 140attached to the first vertical element 110. Specifically, the cover 120may prevent access to the storage system 100 for protection of itemsstored thereon or therein.

For a person having ordinary skill in the art, the storage bin 140 maybe synonymous with a tack box. One or more holding objects 190 areattached to the front surface 116 of the first vertical element 110. Theholding objects 190 may be in various shapes and sizes, such as, hooksor capstans. Some of such shapes and sizes have been shown in FIG. 1. Aplatform 155, usable for placing a hat, for example, may also beattached to the surface of the first vertical element 110. The storagesystem 100 may include a step 150 attached to the first vertical element110. In many cases, the step 150 may be in the form of a step stool.

The storage bin 140 may be attached to the front surface 116 of thefirst vertical element 110. A lid 145 may be attached to the storage bin140. Further, the cover 120 is pivotably attached to the storage bin 140through hinge 170. FIG. 1 shows a pair of hinges 170. The cover 120 maybe configured to latch in a given position of a partly closed or apartly open state.

As the storage system 100 finds application in equine activity, a fullyloaded storage system 100 may become fairly heavy. Some mechanism tohelp move the storage system 100, to a desirable angle, on the hinge180, may be preferable. An example of such a mechanism may be a positionactuator element having a range of sophistication in design. Theposition actuator element may be able to latch the first verticalelement 110 in a desired position so that a user may position the firstvertical element 110 conveniently and stably. The position actuatorelement is attached to the first vertical element 110 and may be manualor power driven. FIG. 1 shows a simple example where a position actuatorelement is a push-pull pole 160, which may be tucked in an appropriaterecess.

The storage system 100 of FIG. 1 is shown with a single rack. In otherwords, a single rack is similar to a single-leaf door.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the storage system 100, in accordance withthe first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The storagesystem 100 is located within the gooseneck area 185. The first verticalelement 110 having a top edge 102, resting on the rolling element 130,is attached via the hinges 180. Several holding objects 190 are alsoshown. The step 150 and platform 155 are illustrated. The storage bin140 has the lid 145 and the push-pull pole 160 is shown in the recess onthe storage bin 140. The cover 120 is shown attached to the storage bin140 through hinge 170. In FIG. 2, the cover 120 is shown in an openposition resting on the floor of the gooseneck trailer.

FIG. 3 shows a front view of a second exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention, i.e., storage system 200. Again, the storage system200 is located within a gooseneck area 285. The storage system 200 mayhave many racks. FIG. 3 shows an embodiment with two racks, or anembodiment of a double-rack style. The first vertical element 210 isshown with two racks. Holding objects 290 are shown on both racks. Thefirst vertical element 210 is removably attached to the second verticalelement (not shown here) via hinges 282 and hinges 280. The secondvertical element may be a side wall of the gooseneck trailer or anothertype of a transportable enclosure. Alternately, the second verticalelement may be attached to a trailer.

In FIG. 3, each of the two racks has been shown with its own storagebin. For the rack on the left, there is storage bin 240 having a lid245. The push-pull pole 265 and 260 are also shown in their respectiverecesses. The rack on the left is resting on rolling elements 235 andthe rack on the right is resting on the rolling elements 230. The rackon the right contains a storage bin 252 having a lid 254.

FIG. 4 shows a front view of a storage system 300, which is a thirdexemplary embodiment of the present invention. Again, the storage system300 is located within a gooseneck area 385. The storage system 300features a first vertical element 310 having a width more than half ofthe width of a trailer but less than the width of the trailer. Stateddifferently, width b of the second edge 315 is less than a breadth bg ofa gooseneck area 385. In equine arts, such a storage system is termed asa “three-fourths” rack. Similar to the first and the second embodiments,FIG. 4 shows hinges 380, holding objects 390, storage bin 340, lid 345,push-pull pole 360, and roller elements 330.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a storage system 400, installed on a dooroutside a trailer, in accordance with a fourth exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention. A cover 420, having a handle 495, is shown in aclosed position. The storage system 400 has a first vertical element 410(FIG. 6) having a first edge 405 (FIG. 6) and a surface. The first edge405 (FIG. 6) of the first vertical element 410 (FIG. 6) is removablyattached to a second vertical element 412 via hinges 480. The secondvertical element 412 could be a door of a trailer. The cover 420 may beattached pivotably to the first edge 405 (FIG. 6) of the first verticalelement 410 (FIG. 6) via hinges 480. Alternately, the cover 420 may beattached, via a separate set of hinges, to the second vertical element412.

FIG. 6 shows more details of the storage system 400 of FIG. 5 with thecover 420 in an open state. The cover 420 may include a mirror 425. Atack box 442 is shown at the top of the first vertical element 410.Holding objects 490 and platform 455 are also shown. A storage bin 440with a lid 445 is shown attached at the bottom of the first verticalelement 410. A second edge 415 of the first vertical element 410 isshown with a dashed line. A push-pull pole 460 is attached in a recess.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a storage system 600, installed on a firsttrack located within a gooseneck area, in accordance with a fifthexemplary embodiment of the present invention. For clarity, FIG. 7 onlyillustrates the areas relevant to describe the fifth embodiment. Forexample, the holding objects are not shown in FIG. 7. A first verticalelement 610, a first edge 605, a second edge 615, and a hinge 680 arealso shown. A rolling element 630 is shown supported by a first track654. The first track 655 could be in many shapes, such as but notlimited to, an arcuate track or a straight track.

FIG. 8A is a front view of a storage system 700, in accordance with asixth exemplary embodiment of the present invention, that is alsolocated within a gooseneck area. For clarity, FIG. 8 only illustratesthe areas relevant to describe the sixth embodiment. As in some earlierembodiments, a second edge 715 is attached to at least one rollingelement 730 supported by a first track 757. The storage system 700 has atop edge 702 attached to at least one wheel 732 supported by a secondtrack 756.

FIG. 8B is a close-up view of the storage system 700, in accordance withthe sixth exemplary embodiment of the present invention, illustrating arolling element 730 in a first track 757. The rolling element 730 isshown attached to a partly-shown first vertical element 710.

A method of making the present system includes: providing a firstvertical element having a first edge, a second edge, and a surface;removably attaching the first edge of the first vertical element to asecond vertical element; attaching the second edge of the first verticalelement to at least one rolling element, such as a castor; pivotablyattaching a cover to the second edge of the first vertical element; andattaching the second vertical element to a trailer.

It should be noted that in accordance with an alternative embodiment ofthe invention, the features of the present system may be provided on agate that is typically provided within a gooseneck trailer to preventanyone or anything from accessing the gooseneck area. As is known in theart, a gate is typically attached to a portion of the gooseneck area, soas to provide capability of closing the gooseneck area from access. Byplacing the features of the present system on a backside of the gate,the features provided by the present system may be provided on a devicethat is already a portion of a gooseneck trailer.

While the present invention has been shown herein and described in whatare presently thought to be the most preferred embodiments thereof, itwill be apparent to a person having an ordinary skill in the art thatmany modifications may be made thereof within the scope of theinvention. Such scope of the invention is to be given the broadestinterpretation of the claims that follow so as to disclose allequivalent structures and methods.

1. A storage system, comprising: a first vertical element having a firstedge, a top edge, a second edge having a width, and a front surface; thefirst edge of the first vertical element is removably attached to asecond vertical element; and the second edge of the first verticalelement is attached to at least one rolling element.
 2. The storagesystem of claim 1, further comprising a cover that is pivotably attachedto the second edge of the first vertical element.
 3. The storage systemof claim 2, wherein the cover is configured to latch in a desiredposition.
 4. The storage system of claim 2, wherein the cover ispivotably attached to the second vertical element.
 5. The storage systemof claim 2, wherein the cover is pivotably attached to an objectattached to the first vertical element.
 6. The storage system of claim1, wherein the second vertical element is attached to a trailer.
 7. Thestorage system of claim 1, wherein at least one holding object isattached to the front surface of the first vertical element.
 8. Thestorage system of claim 1, wherein a storage bin is attached to thefront surface of the first vertical element.
 9. The storage system ofclaim 8, wherein a lid is attached to the storage bin.
 10. The storagesystem of claim 1, wherein a tack box is attached to the front surfaceof the first vertical element.
 11. The storage system of claim 1,wherein at least one position actuator element is attached to the firstvertical element.
 12. The storage system of claim 11, wherein theposition actuator element is a push-pull pole.
 13. The storage system ofclaim 11, wherein the position actuator element is configured to latchthe first vertical element in a desired position.
 14. The storage systemof claim 1, wherein the first vertical element comprises a single rack.15. The storage system of claim 1, wherein the first vertical elementcomprises a plurality of racks.
 16. The storage system of claim 15,wherein each of the plurality of racks is removably attached to thesecond vertical element.
 17. The storage system of claim 1, wherein thewidth of the second edge is less than a breadth of a gooseneck area. 18.The storage system of claim 1, wherein at least one step is attached tothe first vertical element.
 19. The storage system of claim 1, whereinthe at least one rolling element is supported by a first track.
 20. Thestorage system of claim 1, wherein the top edge is attached to at leastone wheel supported by a second track.
 21. A storage system, comprising:a first vertical element having a first edge and a front surface, thefirst edge of the first vertical element being removably attached to asecond vertical element; and a cover pivotably attached to the firstedge of the first vertical element.
 22. A method of providing a storagesystem, the method comprising the steps of: providing a first verticalelement having a first edge, a second edge, and a front surface;removably attaching the first edge of the first vertical element to asecond vertical element; attaching the second edge of the first verticalelement to at least one rolling element; and pivotably attaching a coverto the second edge of the first vertical element.
 23. The method ofclaim 22, wherein the method further includes a step of attaching thesecond vertical element to a trailer.